Carr to challenge Alexander

State lawmaker bails out of raceagainst DesJarlais

9:49 PM,
Aug. 20, 2013

State Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas

Written by

Joey Garrison
| The Tennessean

Waging an insurgency campaign from the far right, Tennessee Rep. Joe Carr announced Tuesday that he's challenging U.S. Lamar Alexander in next year's Republican primary, giving tea party activists at least one candidate to take on Tennessee's longest-serving statewide politician.

But at this point, he isn't necessarily the tea party's consensus pick, and more candidates could surface. Carr also lost his campaign director from his previous race right out of the gate.

Carr, R-Lascassas, has ditched his primary campaign against embattled District 4 Rep. Scott DesJarlais, with plans to ...